Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Separate and still unequal

The push for compromise on the public option came as the full Senate plunged into debate on whether to tighten insurance coverage of abortion in the bill. Sen. Nelson introduced an amendment to remove abortion coverage from the public plan and prevent any woman who gets a new tax credit to buy insurance from enrolling in a plan that covers the procedure.

Others have expressed this same sentiment, but I say let's not make women bear the total brunt of passing health care reform; if this amendment passes, there should also be an amendment that prevents any man who gets a new tax credit to buy insurance from enrolling in any plan that covers boner pills or, say, vasectomies.

I don't mean to make light of this. It makes me sick that they are probably going to pass this misogynist bullshit. Any constitutional experts out there? Can this language pass constitutional muster? Abortion is a legal medical procedure, fercrissakes. If this passes (and I hold precious little hope that it won't), it will simply become unavailable to women who can't afford to pay for it out of pocket.

UPDATE: Amanda, of course. And she also gave us this wonderful visual, albeit connected to another post:Come to think of it, that post is worth a read too.